Lady beetles (Coccinellidae : Coleoptera)‎ in the west bank of Palestine : survey of species, geographic distribution and ecological significance

العناوين الأخرى

الدعسوقيات في الضفة الغربية من فلسطين : دراسة مسحية للأنواع المحلية، توزيعها الجغرافي و أهميتها البيئية

مقدم أطروحة جامعية

Najajrah, Muhammad Husayn Salim

مشرف أطروحة جامعية

Suwaylih, Khalid

الجامعة

جامعة بيرزيت

الكلية

كلية العلوم

القسم الأكاديمي

دائرة الأحياء و الكيمياء الحيوية

دولة الجامعة

فلسطين (الضفة الغربية)

الدرجة العلمية

ماجستير

تاريخ الدرجة العلمية

2018

الملخص الإنجليزي

Lady beetles are common in Palestine and are important natural enemies to many plant pests.

Studies about lady beetles in Palestine, their geographic distribution and their ecological significance are limited.

Therefore, the present study aimed at surveying and identifying all species of lady beetles from the West Bank and exploring their geographic distribution and ecological significance.

For this purpose, 166 localities representing the four phytogeographical zones of the West Bank were visited to collect ladybeetle samples.

About 1490 specimens of lady beetles were collected and classified during the study.

These specimens were found to be belonging to 35 species in 19 genera and 10 tribes representing six subfamilies of lady beetles.

Seven of of these species were recorded for the first time in addition to one species (Nephus peyerimhoffi) that was introduced in 1986 and declared as disappeared, this species was recorded from three localities in the study area.

Of the 35 species of coccinellids identified, four were introduced species (Rodolia cardinalis, Nephus peyerimhoffi, Serangium parcesetosum and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri).

Six species collected were considered common in the study area (found in more than 26 localities).

These were Adalia (Adalia) decempunctata, Coccinella (Coccinella) septempunctata, Hippodamia (Adonia) variegata, Oenopia conglobata, Nephus (Nephus) quadrimaculatus and Pharoscymnus fleischeri.

Nineteen species were considered very rare species (with 5 or less records from the area studied).

These were Cheilomenes propinqua nilotica, Exochomus nigromaculatus, Harmonia quadripunctata, Platynaspis luteorubra, Hyperaspis polita, Hyperaspis syriaca, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Nephus (Bipunctatus) bipunctatus, Nephus crucifer, Nephus (Sidis) hiekei, Nephus peyerimhoffi, Scymnus flavicollis, Scymnus (Neopullus) limbatus, Scymnus nigropictus, Scymnus (Parapullus) abietis, Scymnus (Scymnus) interruptus, Diomus anemicus, Serangium parcesetosum and Rodolia cardinalis.

Ten species recorded during this study were considered rare (found in 6-25 localities).

These were Coccinella (Neococcinella) undecimpunctata, Rhyzobius lophanthae, Stethorus gilvifrons, Scymnus syriacus, Scymnus (Pullus) suturalis, Scymnus (Pullus) subvillosus, Scymnus (Scymnus), Exochomus quadripustulatus pallipediformis, Chilocorus bipustulatus, Exochomus pubescens.

Distributions of coccinellids roughly follow the biogeographical zones of the West Bank as initially established by Zohary and modified by Soto-Berelov et al.

(2015): Twenty-nine species (83%) were recorded from the Mediterranean zone with 10 of them restricted to this zone.

Ten species were recorded from the Irano-Turranean zone with Nephus (Bipunctatus) bipunctatus as the distinctive species for this zone.

The Saharo-Arabian zone was inhabited by 14 species with Hyperaspis syriaca as the distinctive species for this zone.

The Sudanian Penetration zone was inhabited by 19 species with Serangium parcesetosum as the distinctive species.

Five species of lady beetles were recorded in the four phytogeographical zones (Stethorus gilvifrons, Scymnus (Scymnus) pallipediformis, Oenopia conglobate, Hippodamia (Adonia) variegate, Coccinella (Coccinella) septempunctata).

The most common species of lady beetles from the West Bank was Coccinella (Coccinella) septempunctata (Recorded from 60% of localities visited).

All species recorded during the study are useful species that feed on agricultural pests such as aphids and scale insects.

The large diversity of Coccinellids in the study area is particularly important in reducing the heavy use of pesticides and the spread of agricultural pests which maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.

While this was a significant contribution to the Coccinellidae of this part of the World, much more needs to be done (e.g.

on specifics of diets and rearing of potentially useful local species for integrated pest management).

The rich biodiversity of Coccinellids in Palestine provides abundant material for research and development in areas of biological pest control.

Farmers were noted to be receptive to this idea.

التخصصات الرئيسية

الأحياء

الموضوعات

• فلسطين
• الخنافس
• التوزيع الجغرافي

عدد الصفحات

137

قائمة المحتويات

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

لغة النص

الإنجليزية

نوع البيانات

رسائل جامعية

رقم السجل

BIM-889351